Montana Manhunt Intensifies for Veteran Accused of Killing Four in Anaconda Bar Shooting

Michael Paul Brown, 45, fleeing the shooting scene in black underwear and no shoes

Authorities are intensifying their search for Michael Paul Brown, a 45-year-old Army veteran accused of fatally shooting four people at The Owl Bar in Anaconda, Montana. The tragic incident occurred early Friday morning in the quiet town about 75 miles southeast of Missoula.

Brown, who was last seen wearing only boxers and walking barefoot down a flight of concrete stairs, fled the scene in a white pickup truck. Officials believe he later abandoned the vehicle and stole another car equipped with clothing, shoes, and camping gear. The manhunt entered its fourth day on Monday, with police searching surrounding forests and warning residents to remain alert.

Nancy Lauretta Kelley, 64, was bartending at Owl Bar when she was shot and killed

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen confirmed the identities of the victims on Sunday: bartender Nancy Lauretta Kelley, 64, and patrons Daniel Edwin Baillie, 59, David Allen Leach, 70, and Tony Wayne Palm, 74. Knudsen described the killings as a cold-blooded massacre, emphasizing that Brown appeared to know the victims personally, as he was a regular at the bar and lived next door.

“This is an unstable individual who walked in and murdered four people in cold blood for no reason whatsoever,” said Knudsen. “There absolutely is concern for the public.”

Police tape surrounding the Owl Bar in Anaconda, Montana, where four people were killed in a shooting on Friday

Family members revealed that Brown has long struggled with mental health issues, including schizophrenia and post-traumatic stress disorder, stemming from his military service. His niece, Clare Boyle, said the family had made several attempts to get help for him, but he was turned away by Veterans Affairs.

“This isn’t just a drunk or high man going wild,” Boyle said. “It’s a sick man who doesn’t know who he is sometimes and frequently doesn’t know where or when he is either.” In a written statement, she added, “Mental illness does not excuse these acts… but these acts could have been prevented with proper reporting and a healthcare system that gave a damn about its veterans and citizens.”

Daniel Edwin Baillie, 59, was shot and killed on Friday

Brown served as an armor crewman in the U.S. Army from 2001 to 2005, including a deployment to Iraq from early 2004 to March 2005. He later served in the Montana National Guard until 2009.

Nancy Kelley's daughter, Kristian Kelley, described her mother as a retired nurse who took the bartending job to stay active. Although she had never mentioned Brown personally, Kristian noted that he was known in the community for his erratic behavior and tall tales, often mocked by others in the neighborhood.

David Allen Leach, 70, was killed in the shooting in Anaconda on Friday

“He was somebody that needed some serious resources,” she said. “He had some mental health issues as well as PTSD from being in the military… I’ve never known him to be violent.”

Law enforcement continues to scour remote forest areas and urges the public to remain vigilant. Knudsen expressed confidence that Brown will be captured soon.

“We’re going to catch this guy,” he said.

Tony Wayne Palm, 74, was a patron at Owl Bar who was killed